Tag: bass

Astute readers will notice that I haven’t posted a mix since March. I’ve been… busy? I moved continents (which required giving up freelancing music writing – so, blogging’s appeal is somewhat renewed), broke my spleen and tried to make some music of my own. Time to get back to other peoples’. Expect more regular updates again, starting with this simple little thing I threw together and continuing with my best albums of the year roundup as soon as I can relisten to about 60 albums…

In my new digs I was avoiding making mixes, because I don’t have proper speakers yet. Necessity being the mother of invention, I mixed this on the speakers in the TV, and damned if it didn’t come out not half bad. It helps that these tunes needed to be mixed, like money burning a hole in your pocket. Lot of great producers like Pearson Sound and Distal putting stuff out on their own labels, which is interesting, though everyone from Keysound to Tempa are still bringing that fire. And don’t sleep on Nomine – I didn’t always love his stuff but this one is a corker. Enjoy!

A lousy day for the UK is not quite what I had envisioned for this UK-heavy mix — if anything I was hoping it would serve as a post-Remain-vote tribute to the cultural benefits of immigration, since pretty much none of the music I promote these days on the blog would exist without it. But so it goes, as my heart goes out to Britons who may be feeling less loved by their country today. Anyways that’s a lot of nonsense to pile onto what is supposed to be a party-ready mix of bass heavy tracks, so let’s get into the weekend — never mind the Brexit hangover.

It’s January! And I didn’t give you a year end list, because really, year end lists are like fruitcake – they always just show up unannounced and unrequested. Instead I give you a mix, though the title may be misleading. It’s not really what you might call gym-appropriate; in my mind, it was about Exercise because a) Kelela has made that word a double-entendre that I heartily enjoy, and b) this isn’t the easiest mix for your poor ears, but then, no pain no gain. It’s grimy, noisy in spots (hey Russell Haswell), melodic in hardly any spots, but a good workout in terms of exploring the dusty corners of the grime and electronic world that might not get too many rinses in clubland yet that deserve attention nonetheless. Enjoy.

Post-Polaris, I’ve been pretty occupied with some family stuff, so the writing is naturally sparse. As is the listening, I must confess – aside from a few standouts, my year-end list will be tilted towards the beginning of the year I think. But! Mixing is always a bit of relief from what ails, hence this one. Turn it up and enjoy.

Polaris is done! No word of a lie, being on the grand jury this year was one of the best things that has ever happened to me in my music critic career. I’m still floating. I am also way behind in any semblance of being up on new music, so consider this mix remedial singles listening. Grime seems to surge in fits and starts, but no other electronic genre sets the neurons firing like it does, even if Wiley is revisiting past glories. Plenty of heat to go around. Ipman! That is all.